Certain Hearing Aids Can Bring Some Comfort for Many Suffering from Tinnitus (in My Opinion)

Hey, I just wanted to tell people that are really suffering that even if you have a very mild hearing loss in which a doctor says you don't need hearing aids, it can be a comfort to get some anyways...In the U.S., most places will give you your money back after a certain trial period if you don't like them. I got some a few years ago and it really helped my mental state probably about 50% or more. I still had/have unmaskable tinnitus but they "got rid" of some of my other tinnitus that was maskable when I put them on. In addition, the maskers helped me if I got tired of hearing the ringing all the time.

Nowadays, the technology is even better. I tried a hearing aid that allows programming up to 12khz of audio frequencies and it "eliminated" even more of my tinnitus. Unfortunately, I didn't have the money for those at the time so I couldn't buy them. I saw on Ebay though how they are selling hearing aids and it makes me wonder if that would be a good idea to buy them there considering the prices are so much cheaper on the aids I was looking at.

Some of the new hearing aids have various maskers besides white noise such as ocean waves, chimes, etc. Some also hook up directly to an iPhone to play sounds or music which I think would be great if you are really stressed out sometimes because of tinnitus.

The advanced hearing aid I tried had the option of using "directional" amplification. This meant I could amplify sounds only in one direction if I wanted. For example, if I was at a restaurant, I could just amplify the voices in front of me and not the background people talking. They had some other cool features like bluetooth pairing for a phone. For example, I could just use the microphone and receiver ("speaker") on the hearing aid and talk to people on the phone that way. They came in various colors and if you have hair going down to your ear it can cover up the aid. If you have hair over the ear, it can cover them completely and nobody will know you are wearing them.

In addition, there is now a hearing aid that has "built in notch therapy" for people with tonal tinnitus.

The pair I have now really helps me hear voices better while watching TV. Before, sometimes if the volume was low, the background music would make it difficult for me to make out the voices.

I figured I would share this information with you all in the chance it could help someone.

 

@JasonP
Great post and I couldn’t agree more.
How bad is your hearing loss?
I have some above 8khz and had never heard of hearing aids for losses up to 12khz.
Do you remember the brand?
I agree with there being nothing to lose trying hearing aids.

 

I can't exactly remember....it may fluctuate down to 20db or somewhere around there. The brand of the 12khz hearing aids that I know about are:

Signia 7Nx (newest one currently (1/14/18) with the direct iPhone hookup)
Signia 7px Primax
Siemens 7bx Binax

I only tried the older Binax ones but really enjoyed them. Hopefully I can try the Nx ones sometime.
If you go to a hearing aid place, make sure the specialist has an extended audiogram of you and that he knows how to program beyond 8khz.

 

By the way, did you ever try the 12khz hearing aids? I've been doing much better the past several months dealing with tinnitus but I decided to take mine off while watching the TV and the ringing was much "louder". I really think hearing aids can help especially if someone was is suffering very bad. It's sometimes nice for me to put on the maskers at night too just to have something else to listen to.

 

@JasonP
I'm seeing an audiologist on Thursday and see what they say and whether they have these types of hearing aids.
I remember in the early days I was looking for a cheap set of hearing aids just so I could use them as maskers. The third audiologist I saw finally agreed to sell me some!
I am doing better too, but some recent ear issues I've had have bought my attention back to it.
Keen to try them, I will let you know how it goes.

 

@JasonP
I recently got hearing aids up to 8k. I have mild hearing loss between 6-8k. I have worn them a few times. However, each time after wearing them a few hours I had a spike in my Tinnitus lasting the rest of the day. And while wearing them, I didn’t notice any improvement in my T.
Any ideas why I would have a spike? H perhaps?

 

Hi Tracy, I was just thinking about you!
I haven’t a clue why aids work for some and not others.
Would you better off with maskers if your hearing loss is mild?
I still haven’t worn mine yet, my anxiety is so bad it’s disabling. It doesn’t seem to be only about the T either.
I have another hospital appt in 3 weeks time so I’ll see but I’m not giving them back yet. X
@TracyJS

 

There’s a missing be!

Eve x
@TracyJS

 

@Nanny chocolate
I have some mild H. It could be my auditory system is just too sensitive right now for them. It’s relatively early in the whole thing for me.

I’m reluctant to try them because each time I did I had a spike in T.

Maybe it’s something I will try at a later point. I’m so sorry your anxiety is so bad, but I certainly understand as I cope with debilitating anxiety as well.

Give yourself some time. When you feel ready, you can try them.

Debilitating anxiety is really awful. Let’s try to hang in there together.

Tracy xx

 

We’re buddies Tracy. I suspect that some of my anxiety is a side effect of sertraline. I’m going to see about changing meds when I get a psychiatrist appt whenever that might be.
I’ve never had anxiety this bad before and it’s not just about T. I’m clenching my mouth so badly and I’ve lost my ability to smile. This has been noticed so I’m not sure what to do about that ☹️.
I don’t think I’ve had H, only mildly if so.
The constant stomach churning is hateful, maybe you get this too?
Well done for donating too xx
Eve
@TracyJS

 

@Nanny chocolate
Hopefully, you can make a new switch soon. I’m sorry it’s so bad and your so clenched you can’t smile

I’ve had anxiety, at times debilitating anxiety, way before T. This just takes it to a new level unfortunately.

Yes, I’ve gotten the stomach churning, it’s pretty terrible. I’ve had full on panic attacks, feels like you are dying, your nervous system is on fire.

I know this of little comfort perhaps, but anything at all that can be relaxing, please try.

Tracy

 

Okay, don't forget to get an "extended" audiogram. The specialist will need that information to program up to 12khz. Also, the nx series I believe can have music streamed to it from a smartphone so that might be nice if you wanted more masking noise. If you try them, please let me know how they are. I hope things go well for you.

 

It is possible you have reactive tinnitus. If that is the case, I wonder if something like the Signia 7nx series programmed for notch therapy would help. It only is supposed to work for tonal tinnitus though from what I understand.

Check out "reactive tinnitus" on this website and see if you think this is what it is:

https://www.audiologyonline.com/articles/your-role-in-treating-tinnitus-12792

 

I don’t ever remember having anxiety this bad and so prolonged. Just typing the word makes my stomach lurch.
I keep thinking that I was ok back last year, not great but ok. I’d been on sertraline for years, all fine, one change and all hell let loose. I’m still on the dosage I was on for a long time but with worsened T and all these other dire side effects.
I wish I could wave the proverbial magic wand for you, your panics sound terrifying. I had that over the festive season. Tremors, the lot!
I will try, my GP has given me some meds for anxiety but I’ll only take if I really can’t cope.
What are you doing to relax yourself, or is that not possible just now. Maybe cuddling with Riley is good therapy xx
@TracyJS

 

@Nanny chocolate

I so wish I could wave the proverbial magic wand for you, too and go back in time before the dose increase of the sertraline.

Yes, panic attacks are terrible. I’m not having real panic today, even though T is more difficult today.
I’m still tapering off the Clonazepam so that could still be helping with the anxiety. When my T is louder I do get more anxious.

If your anxiety gets too bad, taking an anti anxiety med occasionally probably would not hurt you.
But I understand your worries and concerns.
xxx

 

I have both T & H.
I also need to find out if H a factor to spike T when wearing hearing aids.
Keep in mind, HA is amplifying certain lost frequency.
H will make the ears more sensitive.

 

I saw one of my ladies this morning and it went reasonably well. I cannot do much in the mornings still, too anxious. I went OUT in the little hire car and bought a new top. I don’t need it, I have loads, but it was a little project!
I parked a fair distance from the shops and tried a fast walk. It’s a promenade with the beach and sea all the way into town, about half a mile. My aim is to be able to enjoy that, not just use it as an anti-anxiety tool.
I’m sorry your T is troublesome today, what can you do to feel better?
Eve x
@TracyJS

 

@Nanny chocolate

I’m glad it sound like it was a better day for you. Shopping and the walk along the promenade with the beach and the sea sounds so lovely.
Yes, enjoying it is a great goal.

Not sure what to do about T. I hate it when it gets like this. I try some masking, but sounds can irritate my ears, too. Especially when it’s hissing so much.
Tracy xx

 

I know, mine was really horrible yesterday.
You must remember that yours is in it’s early stages and stands every chance of improving. Does it help if you go out? I know that’s not always possible if you don’t feel up to getting ready.
I have cat purring noise on my phone and that’s not jarring. It’s night here now so off to bed. Speak soon xx
Eve
@TracyJS

 

@Nanny chocolate
I was out a bit this morning when it was better. It got worse this afternoon.

Goodnight Eve. I hope you sleep well.

Tracy
xx

 

@JasonP
Thanks, I will ask for an extended audiogram. I do have one from a year ago, so I'm taking that along with me so at least that gives an idea of where my losses are.
I'm not confident that they do extended audiograms though, I've moved to a more rural area so not confident.
Worse case, I can take a trip back to the original audiologist and have another one done.
I'm not doing a hearing test unless it's an extended audiogram. I don't like listening to my tinnitus with the headphones on - too stressful.
I'll let you know how I go. I'm really going to push the fact that I know my hearing is OK for speech, it's the amplification that I want of the lost frequencies to help mask my tinnitus.
Getting them to understand this might be a challenge!

 

Absolutely, it is so important. I don't need them to hear voices but they certainly help "get rid" of some of my tinnitus when I wear them.

 

@JasonP
I met with the audiologist yesterday.
Let's just say it went OK, but I was given the lecture on trying mindfulness, yoga and CBT. I am all for these, but right now, I'm just in a space where I actually want to do something about my tinnitus.
While my tinnitus is not severe (unless is spikes at night), after a recent setback with some crackling in my ear, I am hyper-focused once again.
So - she did another audiogram to 8khz. Seems to be in line (just a touch better) than the one I had done two years ago. I took a copy of the one from two years ago that went up to 16khz.
She told me I could try aids just as maskers or I could try the programmed hearing aids, which are a bit more pricey.
I'm going to try the programmed aids just to see.... if I get no real benefit I obviously won't pursue them, it's kind of an experiment to see what I think. She was steering me away from them, she said "think of what you can spend that money on - a holiday, car etc etc". I said to her that sometimes peace of mind and happiness comes in many forms, including getting relief from one's tinnitus. It's not like I'm committing to buying them anyway, just keen to try.
She did explain that there are so many frequencies in between the ones tested and there could be a significant loss at one of those, but we don't know.
She said you can get audiograms that test more frequencies (not sure where I'd go for that). They would take a long time though, but it certainly would be interesting.
So much harder to do an audiogram with your head hissing at you. I was exhausted trying to listen for these beeps over the hissing! Lol. Yuck.

 

Hi Tracy, I’ve just seen that you went out on Tuesday, well done.
Thank you for your support yesterday. T, anxiety and massive jaw clenching is not a good recipe.
How are you doing today? I’ve only been out to post a letter and I’m waiting for my friend to come to stop a tap dripping!
It’s a Royal Wedding in the UK tomorrow so lots of people will be in Windsor and London for that.
I’ll try to watch it on TV depending on how rubbish I feel in the morning.
Eve xx
@TracyJS

 

Unless an audiologist has very troubling T themselves they don’t understand. Get whatever feels right for you, they’re your ears and it’s your health.
Listening for those sounds can be anxiety making, I beeped at the T noise!!
I have moderate high frequency loss, I’m retirement age and these are the frequencies a lot of older people lose.
Good luck with your aid trials.
Eve
@Samantha R

 

JassonP, I just had a Starkey upgrade, and was surprised by what I could hear. All the high pitched sounds similar to my tinnitus were also magnified. I only needed voice frequencies amplified nothing higher. The phone app helps some, but turning the hearing aids off, helps more. Will be happier after the tuneup or should I say “tunedown” when I see my audiologist next month. Hearing aids do take awhile to get use to and sometimes require reprogramming. Mine do not mask, but I can hear what people are saying. Thanks for the post @JasonP, take care! @TinA#7oct

 

@Nanny chocolate
Thanks for your message, and of course you are so right.
This audiologist said she had tinnitus from a loud concert and it only bothered her when she was tired or stressed.
Do you use hearing aids Eve?

 

I have been given aids recently but I’m not using them as I’m still recovering from my breakdown at the end of last year. The T got worse and I now have clinical depression and awful anxiety. I’ve become a wimp! also I had a RTC just over 2 weeks ago and that has really set me back.
I don’t like being me just now but nobody seems willing to swap lives!!
My T is constant and very loud, worse on one side than the other, big sigh.
Good luck with your aids, I will try mine when I feel a bit stronger.
Eve x
@Samantha R

 

@Nanny chocolate
I'm so sorry to hear of your suffering. Sounds like you've been through a lot, I hope things get easier for you soon.
Tinnitus is a beast on it's own, especially when it's loud.
I hope you can get to a better place and your hearing aids might even help bring down the volume of your tinnitus.
Big hug to you.
Sam.

 

Pic of my recently received hearing aids with masker and remote. They use the larger 312 battery. Remote works well. I still don't know if they will help with my hissing noise....time will tell. Mowing lawn really got my ear(s) going with nasty noises.